Long-term retardant and fire-suppressing gel compositions

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions comprising a super absorbent polymer (SAP) concentrate mixed with a long-term fire-retardant concentrate, prior to dilution with water, to form a mixed concentrate and methods of making such compositions. The mixed concentrate composition can be subsequently mixed with water to produce an aqueous fire-fighting solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire-fighting concentrate composition, the fire-fighting concentrate composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of a super absorbent polymer (SAP) concentrate and a long-term fire-retardant concentrate, wherein:
 the SAP concentrate is a non-aqueous liquid comprising less than about 4% free water and the long-term fire-retardant concentrate is an aqueous liquid concentrate that contains less than about 1% free water, and   the composition comprises about 40 to 60 parts by volume or weight SAP concentrate and about 60 to 40 parts by volume or weight long-term fire-retardant concentrate, and wherein:
 the free water content of the composition is less than about 5%; 
 the composition further comprises a thickener, and optionally a corrosion inhibitor, a coloring agent, a flow conditioner, or a combination thereof; and 
 the long-term fire-retardant concentrate comprises an ammonium phosphate fire retardant and/or an ammonium sulfate fire retardant. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the SAP concentrate is a non-aqueous liquid comprising less than about 3% free water. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the long-term fire-retardant concentrate is an aqueous liquid concentrate that contains no free water. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the SAP concentrate is a non-aqueous liquid comprising less than about 2% free water. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the SAP concentrate comprises a potassium and/or sodium polyacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a mineral oil, a vegetable oil or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the long-term fire-retardant concentrate comprises an ammonium phosphate fire retardant. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the ammonium phosphate fire retardant comprises monoammonium phosphate and/or diammonium phosphate. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the long-term fire-retardant concentrate comprises an ammonium sulfate fire retardant selected from monoammonium sulfate and/or diammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a corrosion inhibitor, and a coloring agent. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the thickener comprises a biopolymer or an attapulgite clay. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the biopolymer comprises xanthan, welan, and/or rhamsan. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a fire-fighting concentrate, the method comprising mixing a SAP concentrate and a long-term fire-retardant concentrate, wherein:
 the fire-fighting concentrate composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of a super absorbent polymer (SAP) concentrate and a long-term fire-retardant concentrate, wherein,   the SAP concentrate is a non-aqueous liquid comprising less than about 4% free water and the long-term fire-retardant concentrate is an aqueous liquid concentrate that contains less than about 1% free water, and   the composition comprises about 40 to 60 parts by volume or weight SAP concentrate and about 60 to 40 parts by volume or weight long-term fire-retardant concentrate, and wherein:
 the free water content of the composition is less than about 5%; 
 the composition further comprises a thickener, and optionally a corrosion inhibitor, a coloring agent, a flow conditioner, or a combination thereof; and 
 the long-term fire-retardant concentrate comprises an ammonium phosphate fire retardant and/or an ammonium sulfate fire retardant.